Attempted murder suspect arrested

Monday

Nov 21, 2016 at 12:11 PMNov 21, 2016 at 3:51 PM

Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune @RyanPfeil

A Gold Hill man suspected of trying to kill a woman in August by crashing a vehicle while she was a passenger turned himself in to police over the weekend and is in the Jackson County Jail on $3 million bail.

John Oscar Willard, 36, of the 2700 block of Rogue River Highway, was indicted on felony charges of attempted murder, first-, second-, and third-degree assault, and delivery and possession of methamphetamine, according to court and jail records. He is also held on misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless endangerment and reckless driving.

Willard's charges stem from an Aug. 9 incident in the 4000 block of Rogue River Drive in which he allegedly caused serious physical injuries to the woman "by means of a motor vehicle, a deadly or dangerous weapon," said an indictment issued Nov. 17. Willard turned himself in Saturday.

Deputy District Attorney Benjamin Lull declined to comment on additional details in the case, because it is still open.

Willard was arraigned Monday, and Judge Patricia Crain set Willard's bail at $3 million. He entered not guilty pleas to all charges, and is scheduled for a pretrial conference Dec. 5.

In December 2011, Willard was convicted of first-degree burglary after trying to break into the same woman's home and threatening violence against another man he believed was inside, but who was not, according to court records. A probable cause affidavit said Willard threatened to cut off the man's fingers, but Willard fled when the woman called police.

The affidavit in the 2011 case said the woman had broken up with Willard due to his "meth addiction, and he has become increasingly paranoid."

— Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or rpfeil@mailtribune.com. Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil.